Assembly for pumping well fluids



April 5, 1960 c. x.. MAssEY 2,931,304

ASSEMBLY FOR PUMPING WELL FLUIDS Filed July 5, 1957 INVENTOR.

CURTIS L. MASSEY,

ASSEMBLY FOR PUMPIN G WELL FLUIDS Curtis L. Massey, Jacksonville, Tex. Application July 5, 1957, Serial No. 670,107 7 Claims. (Cl. 10S-4) The present invention is directed to an Iassembly for pumping well uids. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a hydraulically operated well pump which is movable through and seatable in a well tubing. In its more specic aspects, the invention is concerned with an assembly for pumping well uids in which means are provided for iiuidly interconnecting conduits through which hydraulic uid is supplied to the pumping assembly and removed therefrom.

The present invention may be briey described as an assembly for pumping well uids which comprises at least one hydraulically operated well pump which is mov# able through and seatable in a well tubing. A iirst conduit is attached to the well tubing for delivering hydraulic fluid to the pump and a second conduit is also attached to the well tubing for conducting the hydraulic uid and the well uids from the pump. The two conduits communicate uidly with the pump. Means are provided, such as a third conduit, which liuidly interconnects the first and second conduits adjacent the pump. In the duid interconnecting means, or the third conduit, is provided a ow control means which may suitably be a check valve which permits flow through the ilud interconnecting means in one direction and resists flow through the iluid interconnecting means in another direction. In short, the flow control means allows dow from the second conduit to the tirst conduit and resists ow from the first conduit to the second conduit whereby fluid circulation from the second conduit to the first conduit is conducted while maintaining the pump seated in the well tubing.

The present invention is of considerable advantage and utility in that heretofore when the conduit or line carrying production and power or hydraulic uids from the hydraulically operated pump became fouled by deposition of Wax, and the like, it was necessary, when running a soluble plug through the line to remove the fouling material, to unseat the hydraulically operated pump and then reseat it by virtue of the pressure employed to move the soluble plug through the line. In the practice of the present invention, wherein the conduit which normally supplies power fluid and the conduit which normally discharges production and power fluids are interconnected and a flow control means, such as a check valve provided therein, it is possible to run the soluble plug without unseating the pump. Besides saving a considerable amount of time for unseating and reseating the pump with the consequent wear on pump packing, there is no commingling of iluids where the invention is employed in a dually completed well employing a plurality of interconnected pumps. The invention is therefore of considerable advantage and is quite useful in such installations.

rIhe present invention will be further described by reference to the drawing in which the single iigure is a partial sectional View of a preferred embodiment. Referring now to the drawing, numeral 11 designates a well casing located in a vwell bore drilled from the earths Surface, not shown, and cemented in place'usng the nited States Patent O Patented Apr. 5, 1960 lCe usual conventional cementing technique. For purposes of description and for simplicity, the cement shield or sheath surrounding the casing 11 is not shown. The Well casing 11 is arranged in the well bore 12 which penetrates a plurality of subsurface earth formations, sands, zones, horizons, strata, and the like, some of which may be hydrocarbon bearing and others of which are nonhydrocarbon bearing. For purposes of this description only, it may be assumed that zone or horizon 13 is hydrocarbon bearing and zone or horizon 14 is non-hydrov carbon bearing and zone or horizon 15 contains hydro carbons. It may be further assumed that zones or hori zons 13 and 15 are vertically spaced apart a substantial distance, and it is desirable to produce oil simultaneously -from yboth of the zones.

In accordance with the present invention, a tubing string 16 having a housing 17 arranged on its lower end and forming a part thereof is provided with a first bypass conduit 18 and a second by-pass conduit 19. The lower end of the housing 17 is arranged in a packer 20 Iwhich separates and isolates the zones 13 and 15 one from the other. Connected to the housing 17 is a irst conduit 21 for supplying power fluid through lateral conduits 22 and 23 to the housing 17 and to hydraulically operated pumps, which Will be described further hereinafter. Also connected to the housing 17 is a second conduit 24 which connects to the housing 17 by lateral conduits 25 and 26. 26 serve to remove power and production fluid from the housing 17 and from the pump, which will be de scribed further hereinafter. Interconnecting the conduits 21 and 24 is a third conduit 27 which contains a check valve 28. Check valve 28 allows iiuid to flow from conduit 24 to conduit 21 when a sufficient amount of pressure is exerted on the check valve to cause the v Check valve 28 resists ow of crossover means generally designated by the numeral 29,

which is seatable or supported in a seating means 30 which may be a landing nipple. The crossover means 29 is suitably supported or anchored in the landing nipple 30 by a hanger 31. The crossover means 29 is sealed in the housing 17 by sealing means 32, 33, 34 and 35. The lower end of the crossover means 29 is open and provides communication with a passageway 36 which in turn communicates through ports 37 with the space 38 between sealing means 33 and 34 and thence by port 39 with the by-pass conduit 18, the plug 40 closing the passage, way 36.

The housing 17 is provided with a port 41 communi cating with the space 42 between packing or sealing; means 34 and 35 and with the ports 43 and with passage-- way 44 above the plug 40 and thence with one of the pumps which will be described hereinafter. The upper end of the crossover means 29 is provided with a suitable fishing head 45 for retrieving the crossover means 29 with a wireline as may be desired.

Movable through the tubing 16 and the housing 17 and seated within the upper end 45 of the crossover means 29 are interconnected pumps 46 and 47. These pumps are interconnected for running in of the pumps and for seat- The conduits 24, 25 and.

The pump 46 is provided with sealing means 52 and 53y which serve to isolate the ports 54 and to provide communication with the conduitsr 23 and 21. SealingY means 55.0n pump 47 cooperates with` sealing means 53 on'- purnp 46 and isolates the ports 56 of. pump 47 vfrom theL ports 54 of pump 46. Sealing means 57 on pump 47 iso- Vlates the ports 58 from the ports 59; Sealingk means 60 on. pump 47, in cooperation with sealing means-61, iso-y lates the ports 62 and allows com munication between the pump 47 and the conduits 22 and 21. It will be seen from the foregoing description that thevr ports 62 communicate with the conduit 22, the ports 59l communicate with the conduit .25,.the ports 58 communicate through port 63 with the by-pass conduit 19, which` in turn communicates through port 64 with the tubing 16 Y for passage to the earths surface.

With the assembly as set out 1n the drawing, it is pos-Y sible to Vpump iluids from the Zones 13 and 15 simultaneously. Fluid from the lower zone 15 flows through perforations 15a in casingv 11 and then passes through the passageway 36 through port 37 into the space 38 and` thence through port 39 into by-pass conduit 18 and thence by port 65 into the space 66 and thenV into ports 56which constitute theV inlet to pump 47 and discharged by way of ports 58 into the port 63 and thence through by-pass conduit 19 and port 64 upwardly through the tubingl. v

Production from the upper zone 13. proceedsY into the i annulus A between the housing 17 and the casing 11 andV through perforations 13a in casing 11 and thence through assume thepresent invention-,may be of the type described inthe Coberly Patent 2,761,514, columns 6 and 7, where an oil soluble sealing means is described. Briey, natural asphalts, naphthalenes, high melting point waxes, partially polymerized natural resins, asphaltic emulsions, sulfur, and the like, may be used.y Other oil soluble and heat meltable materials may be used in lieu of the several specic materialsmentioned before.-

the lowerV end thereoff iniwhich said Wellis provided withy a iirst conduit and asecondfconduit attachedv to said tubing." adjacent said point, the first of said conduits Vbeing'adaptedi! for deliveringu hydraulic uid to said pump and the second inletport 41 into space 42` and into passagewayv 44 Vand thenceinto the inlet 67 of pump^46 to-be dischargedzby way'ofV port 63: into the space 69Ybetween'- sealing meansy and 52 and thence into conduits 26 and12'4'f to the earthssurface, the power oiland the producedifluid'from zone 13.7commingling and being discharged to the earths.V

surface. Also,.the power uid nsupplied topump,v 47 is discharged through port 59 into the space 70 which is' iu communication with the conduit 24 for dischargeofVV the power uid. y

During the operation of 'a pumping assembly ofthe nature: described herein, theV conduit 24, which may be about 1i in diameter, will tend-to-becomefouledf with waxy and other materials which depositffrom the producedV oil. When this happens7` it has been necessary heretofore toplace a soluble plugof material4 in the'equivalent of line 24 where the present invention was not employed and to superimpose uidpressure on the p lug and-V pump it down the. equivalent of line 24.` Since pressure is exerted then on the sealing means, such as` 52, this Y fwould cause unseatingof the pumpst46V and 47,*overcom- Y ing the restraining means 48 and also would require, prior tothe present invention, subsequent Yreseating ofrtheI pumps 46 and 47. Wear would be effected on the sev# eral sealing means which would requirereplacement.

In accordancewith the present invention, by provision of the Vconduit 27 and the check valve 28, the pumps 46.

and 47 do not become unseated. A soluble plug iis placedn inthe conduit 2,4,and fluidl pump pressure. is exerted,

pumping power fluiddown the conduit' 24.- Sincer the pressure is suflicient'to overcome the force ofthe springfloaded check valveV 28 but less than thatrequired to unseat pumps 46 and 47 by overcoming restrainingmeans48, the check valve 28bec0mes unseated-'andvthe pumpedpower huid down line 24 causes the pumpedy fluid to fiow through line 21 to the earthsV surface, whichis the, Vreverseof the normal fluid ow. The soluble plug removesthe Wax or other deposited material Vfrom then innerwallof the conduit 24 and by virtue of itsrsolubility in the power oil slowly dissolvesand/or becomes vmelted due to the temperature in the annulus YA andflows commingled with thepumpedpower uid through the check valve v28 and @through the conduit v271 totheearths surface.

TheY type of vsoluble i plug: ernployedin` the: practice ofrf:

of said conduits being adapted for conducting said hydraulic and Well fluids from said pump, said conduitsiconr municating fluidly with said pump, means arranged' exteriorly of said tubingiiuidly interconnecting said conduits adjacentvv the lower ends thereof, and a springlloaded' checkv valveV meansv inA saidV fluid interconnecting means providingunidirectional'flow fromv the second conduit through said'uid interconnecting means to the rst 'con'- duit; said" spring-loaded check' valve means being constructedtoopen at apressure lessthan that which Ywould.

release saidfp'ump from its seat in said tubing, whereby iluid circulation from the second-of said conduits to the! first: of said conduits is conducted whileV maintaining'pump seated in said tubing.

2'. In ani assemblyV for pumping well Yfluids inra welllV havingatubing arranged therein comprising-at least one hydraulically; operated well pump freely movable through andfseatable.releasablyv in said tubing ata point adjacentthe lower end thereof, in whichsaidwell isY provided withV a first conduit attached to said Vt'ubingvfor delivering hy# draulic uidy to said'pump and with a second Yconduit atl tache'dy to said tubing; for conducting said hydraulic and Wellfluids from said pump; said conduits beingattached to saidV tublng adjacent-said point and said conduits communrcating iluidly with saidrpump, means arranged exteriorly of saidl tubing uidly interconnecting said conduits in said wellV adjacent said pump andav spring-loaded check-valve` meansfinsaid huid'interconnecting` means providingV uni-Y Y directional ow through said liuid interconnecting'l means from` the secondfconduitto the iirst conduit, said'spn'ngloaded checkfvalve means' being constructed to'open at' a* t pressure lessfthan' that whichvwould release said' pump from its seat iny said Ytubing, v/here'by fluid" circulation from'the second conduit to the first conduit is conducted While-maintaining said pump seated in saidV tubing.

3. Inf an assembly for pumping well iiuids in a well having attubin'g arranged therein comprising a plurality of interconnected hydraulically operated well pumps freely movable l throughand4 seatable.. releasably in said= tubing' at a point adjacent the lower-,end thereof in which saidpumps.Y are provided with a rst conduitand a secondconduit attached-to said tubing adjacent the lower endthereof, the iirst Vof said conduits being adapted'for delivermghydraulicuidto saidpumps and the second of saidf conduits-being adapted `for conducting said hydraulic and well uids from s aid pumps,.said` conduitscommunicating uidly with sald pumps, means arranged eXteriorly-ofY saldaltubln'g uidlyinterconnecting' said conduits adjacent the lowervendsf'thereof, arid' a springeloaded check valveN means in saidluidfinterconnecting means providing unidirectional iiowl through -said fluid intercormecting1meansV from the second conduitto-the-lirst conduit, said springloaded --C11`Ck Valve means lbeing constructed to openfat'fa'fz Y apetece pressure less than that which would release said pumps from their seats in said tubing, whereby Huid circulation from second of said conduits to the first of said conduits is conducted while maintaining said pumps seated in said tubing.

4. In an assembly for pumping well uids in a well having a tubing arranged therein comprising a plurality of interconnected hydraulically operated Well pumps freely movable through and seatable releasably in said tubing at a point adjacent the lower end thereof, in which said pumps are provided with a irst conduit attached to said tubing for delivering hydraulic iiuid to said pumps and with a second conduit attached to said tubing for conducting said hydraulic and well uids from said pumps, said conduits being attached to said tubing adjacent said point and said conduits communicating uidly with said pumps, means arranged exteriorly of said tubing tiuidly interconnecting said conduits in said Well adjacent saidV pumps and a spring-loaded check valve means in said fluid interconnecting means providing unidirectional ow through said. liuid interconnecting means from the second conduit to the rst conduit, said spring-loaded check valve means being constructed to open at a pressure less than that which Would release said pumps from their seats in said tubing, whereby uid circulation from the second conduit to the first conduit is conducted while maintaining said pumps seated in said tubing.

5. An assembly for pumping well uids comprising, in combination, a well tubing, at least one hydraulically operated Well pump freely movable through and seatable releasably in said well tubing adjacent its lower end, a irst conduit and a second conduit attached to said tubing adjacent the lower end thereof, the first of said conduits being adapted for delivering hydraulic uid to said pump and the second of said conduits being adapted for con ducting said hydraulic and well fluids from said pump, said conduits communicating uidly with said pump, means arranged exteriorly of said tubing uidly interconnecting said conduits in said Well adjacent said pump, and a spring-loaded check valve means in said uid interconnecting means providing unidirectional How through said uid interconnecting means from the second conduit to the first conduit, said spring-loaded check valve means being constructed to open at a pressure less than that which would release said pump from its seat in said tubing, whereby duid circulation from the second of said conduits to the first of said conduits is conducted while maintaining said pump seated in said tubing.

6. An assembly for pumping well uids comprising, in combination, a well tubing, a plurality of hydraulically op- 6 erated well pumps freely movable through and seatable releasably in said Well tubing adjacent its lower end, a iirst conduit attached to said tubing for delivering hydraulic huid to said pumps and with a second conduit attached to said tubing for conducting said hydraulic and well fluids from said pumps, said conduits being attached to said tubing adjacent said pumps and said conduits communicating liuidly with said pumps, means arranged exteriorly of said tubing fluidly interconnecting said conduits adjacent said pumps in said well and a spring-loaded check valve means in said tiuid interconnecting means providing unidirectional ow through said uid interconnecting means from the second conduitto the iirst conduit, said spring-loaded check valve means being constructed to open at a pressure less than that which would release said pumps from their seats in said tubing, whereby fluid circulation from the second conduit to the irset conduit is conducted while maintaining said pumps seated in said tubing.

7. An assembly for pumping well uids comprising, in combination, a well tubing at least one hydraulically operated well pump freely movable through and seatable p releasably in said well tubing adjacent itsv lower end, a rst conduit attached to said tubing for delivering hydraulic uid to said pump and With a second conduit attached to said tubing for conducting said hydraulic and well uids from said pump, said conduits being attached to said tubing adjacent said pumps and said conduits communicating uidly with said pump, a third conduit on the exterior of the tubing uidly interconnecting said iirst and second conduits in said well adjacent said pump, and a spring-loaded check valve in said third conduit providing unidirectional dow through said third conduit from the second conduit to the iirst conduit, said spring-loaded check valve being constructed to open at a pressure less than that which would release said pump from its seat in said tubing, whereby uid circulation from the second conduit to the rst conduit is conducted while maintaining said pump seated in said tubing.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,623,239 Galbreath Apr. 5, 1927 2,172,636 Coberly Sept. 12, 1939 2,245,501 Richardson June 10, 1941 2,605,712 v Davis et al. Aug. 5, 1952 2,653,545 Dempsey et al Sept. 29, 1953 2,761,514 Coberly Sept. 4, 1956 

